Rights and Humanity started advising the UN Development Programme (UNDP in 1999, and continued to act as policy consultants and to help train its staff over the coming years.

In 1999, UNDP had just set up a joint programme with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) under the title HURIST (Human Rights Strengthening). The HURIST Programme’s purpose was to test guidelines and methodologies and identify best practices for the development of national human rights capacity and the application of a human rights approach to development. UNDP sought Rights and Humanity’s advice on the development of the Programme and choice of pilot countries. We identified Jordan as a suitable location in the Arab region. As a result, during 1999 and 2000 Rights and Humanity was commissioned to act as consultant to advise the Government of Jordan on the development of its human rights policy (see 4.7 below).

In 2000, UNDP dedicated its Human Development Report to the issue of Human Rights and Human Development. Rights and Humanity was commissioned to write two background papers for this ground-breaking UN publication.

Other consultancies for UNDP undertaken by Rights and Humanity included:

• July 2001, providing advice on strategic programming of UNDP’s HIV/AIDS programme and helping UNDP to refine its strategies to mainstream human rights in its AIDS programme
• November 2001, a mission undertaken on behalf of UNDP to advise the Ukraine Government on ensuring respect for human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.
• November 2000, a mission to Lebanon to begin discussions with the Government and other stakeholders on possible UN support for mainstreaming a human rights approach to development within all aspects of its work in Lebanon.
• Training UNDP Resident Coordinators and staff in a human rights approach to development.

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